Stafford

Stafford's population expanded between the last two censuses. At the same time there were changes in relationships, housing tenure and health.

The population passed 130,000

Between the last two censuses, the population of Stafford increased by 8.5%, from almost 121,000 to 131,000.

The addition of just over 10,000 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Stafford was home to, on average, 1.6 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was lower than the average across the West Midlands

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the West Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

More people living alone

This area saw the West Midlands' second-largest rise in the proportion of single-person households.

Across the region, only Staffordshire Moorlands saw a greater rise in the proportion of single-person households (from 25% to 28%).

During this period, Stafford went from having the 20th-highest to the 13th-highest percentage of single-person households out of 309 English local authority areas.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (29%) households in Stafford had only a single person, compared with 26% in 2001. The percentage with an unmarried couple increased from 8.0% to 9.5%.

The percentage of households with only a single-person was lower than across the West Midlands

Percentage of households that that comprised only a single person across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Changing work life

The rate of self-employment increased in Stafford, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in the West Midlands, except Lichfield.

Every local authority area across the West Midlands saw a rise in the proportion of self-employed people, as the regional average grew from 7.4% to 8.5%.

In 2011, just over 1 in 11 (9.1%) people aged 16 to 74 in Stafford said they were self-employed, compared with 8.5% in 2001. The percentage that were employed decreased from 55% to 55%.

The rate of self-employment was higher than across the West Midlands

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that that said they were self-employed across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Stafford that rented privately increased from 7.5% to 13% in the decade to 2011.

The proportion that lived in social housing remained close to 14%, while the percentage of Stafford households that owner their home decreased from 76% to 72%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a slower rate here than the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 7.3% in 2001 to 14% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Stafford increased by 5.5 percentage points

Percentage of households in Stafford, the West Midlands and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Stafford residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 8.3% to 5.1% between the last two censuses.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (82%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 70% in 2001. The percentage of Stafford residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22% to 13%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 9.7% in 2001 to 6.1% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Stafford decreased by 3.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Stafford, the West Midlands and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Stafford working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 14% to 12% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 30 (3.4%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.9% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 13% in 2001 to 9.4% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Stafford decreased by 2.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Stafford, the West Midlands and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

↑ Back to the top

Area report data

Related links